I should probably be more specific on which mics im looking for... ALL OF THEM!!! I know we need a really good Vocal Mic. but what about the the rest for guitars and drums and all the other goodies. The other thing, when it comes to the bass guitar, should we find a good DI or is there a better way for the bass.

If you haven't purchase your "studio foam" yet then don't. Either build traps from 703 or buy them from Ethan Winer( realtraps.com ). Most people I've talked to that really care about their room don't use auralex. Plus focus mainly on low end, that where a majority of your problems will begin.

As far as mics go, well, 5 grand is gonna be tough to get "pro" mics. I mean one Neumann could set you back that much. Lets see what we got here.

Tom mics:
3 Sennhieser md421's=$1000 or
3 pack Sennhieser e604= $300
Kick Drum:
Audix D6 or
AKG D112 both $200
Snare:
Trusty sm57 under a hundred
Overheads:
2 Shure sm81's= $700
Guitars:
57's will work for cab
sm81's will work for acoustic
Vox: here's the tricky one and the one you'll need the most of so here's a list of various mics you should own.

shure sm7=$350
ev re-20=$400
rode k2=$700
a good ribbon(sorry don't no much about ribbons)
akg c414=$1000
Neumann u87=$3000.

There are a ton of mics I left out, mostly because I'm sick of compiling. I have a very short attention span. Here are a few mics that might suit you. Besides a few, you can pretty much mix and match whatever you want to find what suits what best. I just wanted to give you an idea of what there is.

thank you for the list and im sorry if that gave you a headache typing all that out... lol I think from what ive read that this will get me a good start, Our goal is to produce a few demos and start building our collection. Just wish we had 50.000 instead of 5000.00 to get us started

Mics

Ok Johnny high balled you a bit, which is good. Dont get crazy, and buy everything new. Use ebay, and pawn shops too. Get some really quality mics, that you can upgrade with and if you make any cash flow. Here are a few mics I wolud recommend
Audix Drum mic pack that includes the D6
sennheiser MD421
AT2020
AKG 3000b (2)
shs OM450 (shure sm57 clone that I cannot tell the difference honestly)
Audix I5
Sennheiser e609
Rode NTK
Blue Baby bottle
Just get the drum mics down, because you cn use them for guitar, and bass applications too. and get a couple quality, but unexpensive vocal mics. You easily could walk into the mics I have listed for under 3,500, and you can get a real quality preamp if you had 1500 bucks to throw at it, and it would really help you to get the most from the mics selected.
Hope I helped even just a little. Ohh and whats really helpful for doing hip-hop would be a yamaha subkick.

All you need is one good vintage, old original Neumann U47 and a bag full of SM57s. Then everybody will go to your studio just to see the 47.

I don't qualify. I'm 50!
Ms. Remy Ann David

Once again, thank you for all the input, I spent over 3 hours last night reading through all the threads and it seems like there is alot of mixed feelings on certain equipment, but the choices you all have given me seem to generally be respected. Thanks for all the input

Hi all. Been a while.

If I were starting a studio again, and I had 5k, I'd get these mics:

-4 Shure SM57s (never buy them for more than $70 used each)
-1 EV RE20 ($400 on eBay all day long)
-a pair of 414s (C-BULS - about $1200), and
-one U87 or some fairly expensive vocal condenser (a grand or so)
-a pair of decent small diagphragm condensers. The R0DE NT5s are cheap and sound good ($400, I think), but get AKG 451s if you can find the old ones with the removable capsules.

That will get you out for $3500US. Spend the rest on rent.

Here's the reasoning: 57s sound good on anything, you'll need a pair each of small diaphragm and large diaphragm condensers (drum OH, acoustic gtrs), the RE20 is a great kick mic that also sound terrific on electric guitars and male vocals, you have to have one LDC vocal mic of some dollar value.

Trust me, this list is from the experience of what I use every day, and what I wish I'd bought at the outset instead of all the other crap that I used once and let gather dust. I have way more mics than this for specialty purposes, but I've done many, many sessions with only these mics, and have never been left wanting.

~id

excellent choices, idio....however, just from personal taste, I'd replace the AKG 414's with AT 4050s, and perhaps save a few bucks (For now) with some SP mics, at least to get started. Otherwise, I'd make the same choices. And as you and Remy already stated: you can't go wrong with a bunch of SM57's or 58s to get going.

Once the work starts coming in, you can add more exotic gear as you go.

The main thing is to be up and running with some good, no-frills stuff, and get your client base started that way. In a pinch, if you've got a client that just HAS to have a certain mic or preamp sound, you can always rent for the duration of their tracking time.

I had to do the same thing as you a while back. I went with a DI on bass (Avalon U5 or SanAmp bass DI). Then I bought a Radial stereo DI box made for keyboard. Also I bought a Marshall SE100 (DI for guitar). For miking the drums I bought an Audix DP5 drum pack. Then I bought two Shure SM57's and one Shure SM58, with an Audix OM6 for voals and whatever else.
Now, I did not have $5000 like you, (nice to have your problems) BUT if you do something simular (money wise) you should have only spent about $1700-$2200 (give or take a few $$$)
Which brings me to the reason I suggested this setup or a setup simular to this....
If you can get a mic closet "started" and have all the basic's PLUS now with the $3000 left over now you can get something REALLY nice that will set you apart from the other local guys, like a Neumann U87ai or whatever. That U47 Remy listed is like $7000. At least the prices I looked up?

Here is the same list above w/ prices:
Bass DI=$200 SansAmp (or $500 Avalon U5 either one)
Guitar DI=$500 Marshall(on ebay)Or a new GrooveTubes=$600
Keyboard DI=$200-$300(If you need it?)
Drum mic Audix DP5= $500 OR you could buy some SM57's ($99 each)and a Senn 421 =$350
Just something to concider, and even if you would rather go the "ALL mic" direction that's cool as well. This appraoch has worked well for me, but mostly because of money reasons.

you all rock, I really appreciate all the input. We just set a budget of 5000.00 but Hoped we wouldnt have to spend it all right away so I really appreciate the heads up since that will give us more money to put towards the Control24 we are after. Can I also ask everyone another question? how much would all of you say when someone walks into a studio, how often would you say that their perception is a big part of getting the job? For instance we know the control 24 is not a necessity, but first off it does make life easier, but the look on peoples faces when they see a cool console and a cool building seems to be priceless.. would you agree? and how about the Pro tools certification? my partner is 1 of 4 people in Kansas and I will soon be number 5, would you say that this really is a "turn on" for bands "I know, bad choice of words, but seemed funny"

I think perception is a big thing, especially at first. Once your recordings get out there though, word of mouth is the big thing. A lot of bands know eachother and share demos and stuff; and if you can make a really good sound, EVERYONE will know eventually. Really helps save on advertising costs. :P

I forget how much a Control 24 is, but if you can get an old used console for a lot cheaper--even if you can only really use it for headphone routing--you will still have the requisite console look along with some extra dough for some stuff that will actually affect your sound like good preamps.

And I don't think a lot of bands care if you have someone "certified" in protūlz or not. Just as long as when they say "Do you use ProTūlz," you say "Why yes; yes we do." Although certification courses may help your workflow if you are not already a whiz at it.

The main thing is to be up and running with some good, no-frills stuff, and get your client base started that way.

Bingo.

It's way more important to get started than to show off.

Later, you can go crazy! : 8)

~id